The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-12-10
PopocATgPErL.s CRATER.


proachahie GRANDEUR.
OF all the wandering millions since
this weary world was young. few feet
have ever reached this spot. and of
these few not many have been wo-
mems. Think OF it-over three and
half miles in mid air. half mile above
the tip-top pinnacle of Mont Blanc!
The highest mountain in Europe lacks
over two thousand feet of being as lofty
as Popocatapetl OF course. the chief
object of interest on top of the volcano
is the crater. Imagine the interior OF
a mountain literally blown out by an
explosion. to the depth of one thousand
eight hundred feet. leaving narrow
rim on its inside surface, over which
the sea of snow curls higher than
mans head. | looked over the dizzy
brink in mute astonishment A vast
cavity, unsuspccted from the outside.
ut least mile across. sank away at my
feet. rock-ribbcd, ragged and
torn along its prccipitous sides.
Out of the orilice in its
deep and dismal bottom rose jets Of
steam, pulling and blowing in the dead
air. A workman who had wrought in
the crater told me that the iuneros, or
steam vents. instead of being foot in
diameter. as they appeared, measured
from twelve to eighteen feet The
vapor pouring out of these holes is
highly inpregnatcd with sulphur.
which is deposited on the rocks and in
the soil, furnishing an inexhaustible
supply of this valuable mineral. The
crane and rigging for lowering the
workmcn into this inferno consists of a
strong beam projecting few feet over
tho abyss; over a pulley in the end
runs a long rope, with loop in the
lower end. The person wishing to
descend stands in the loop, holds the
rope ia one hand and with the other
manages stick to protect himself
from injury by swinging against the
rocks. Two poems let the rope run
slowly over the pulley. and the descent
occupies about fifteen minutes.
| The bottom of the crater is covered
with scorie, which glitters with various
colors. In one place is stone, so large
that man can stand upon it, which
rises and falls as it feels the effect of
the subterranean vapors. At the low
est point is lake. the water of which
has an acid taste. The edge Of the
crater is composed Of immense bowl
ders of periphery and basalt and one
may descend some distance on foot by
an icy pathway leading downward to
the huge rock which supports the
malacate. or machine for lowering the
workmen. Since the mountain has
been giving out its sulphurous breath
for unnumbered centuries, the amount
already existing is beyond estimation,
and something like ton is daily
deposited. 1t would hardly be
an exaggeration to say that the
upper part of the mountain is an
immense block Of sulphur, inclosed in
a shell of rock few yards thick.
Three qualities of sulphur are obtained
by the operations here. The best is
almost chemically pure, and is OBJ
tanned at the resper cdos, or steam
vents. whence it issues in a liquid state
and lIardens rs it cools. The other
two qualities are known to the trade al
'.rich" and pure sulphur ore. The
former yields from eighty-two tc
eighty-scven per cent of pure sulphur
tho latter about fifty per cent The
process used in its publication is that
Of Michel. Distillation takes place al
Tlamacas in half-cylinders which serve
rs retorts. One who has stood upon
tho brink of that crater can never for
get the awful silence that broods ovel
the sceno of desolation. Fannie B
Hard, in Troy m r. Times.